Land-roller and attachments



3 Shets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

A 0. DILDAY. LAND ROLLER AND ATTACHMENT.

Patented July 12, 1881.

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(No Model.) 3 sheets sheet A..G. DILDAY. LAND ROLLER AND ATTACHMENT.

No. 244,040. Patented Ju1y 12, 1881.

(N0 Model.) 3 SheetS- -Sheet 3 A. 0 DILDAY.

LAND ROLLER AND ATTACHMENT. N0. 244,040. Patented July 12, 1881.

I I I HIHHHHI lllllililvl ll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE)- LAN D-RO LLER AND ATTACHMENTS SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,040, dated July 12, 1881.

Application filed June 11, 1881. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Amos 0. DILDAY, of Keensburg,in the county of Wabash and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Land-Rollers and Attachments and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to land-rollers for crushing, leveling, and pulverizing the soil, and is also applicable to plowing, cultivating,

. and otherwise working the ground; and itcon-f sists in certain arrangements of parts and in combinations of devices, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Before further describing my invention, its combination, and operation, 1 desire to say that it is generally known that land properly rolled and compressed will retain the moisture longer than when the land is loose and fallow; and it is also well known that many rollers of various constructions have been used, and many methods have been adopted for carrying the same into effect; but I am not aware that any of these devices or constructions have given entire satisfaction, and therefore do not claim such.

The beneficial results of compressing the soil, particularly light, porous, or loose soil, are so well known that I regard a description unnecessary, more than simply to allude thereto, although it may be said that many persons are under the impression that land must be kept loose in order to give the small fibers and roots a chance to spread. This may be true as far as the subsoil is concerned, but not at all so with the surface or crust of the land; for it is evident that if the surface is loose and porous the wind, heat, and air readily penetrate it, and thus absorb the .very essential of the soil-via, the moisture and also the volatile substances of the manure, such as ammonia and the alkalies generally.

Therefore,,to remedy the defects and to improve on what has been already done are the aims of my invention.

Referring more particularly to the accompanyin g sheets of drawings, and to the letters of references marked thereon, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the invention complete as a roller and marker. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the plow and roller; Fig. 3, plan view, with the side wings of the roller removed, clearly showing the center portion of the frame adapted to use as a straddle-row, with a plow and roller combined. Fig.4 repsents a plan view of a modification of my invention, in which is shown a double series of narrow-tread rollers bein g flaton their surface, and each lapping or looking into the other, completely compressing all the ground for the distance between the outer wheels.

The same letters of reference indicate like parts on all the figures.

A is the jointed frame, which may be made of round iron or pipe, or may be made of flat iron, if desired, but must be of the same size throughout. This frame is made in three sections, as shown at B B B. Each of the outer sections is hinged to the central one, as may be seen at a a a a. These hinged bearings a a a a, are horizontally adjustable and slide on their respective frames, when it is desired to detach the section. Theyare held in place by set-screws or other equivalent devices.

The central bearings or boxes, I), have a double functionthat of journal and hingeand are so arranged that they can slide longitudinally on their respective frames, and when they are in the desired position they are held in place by collars or other means. The round frame in this case forms the pintle for the hinge. The object of hinging the sections is that when the rollers reach uneven ground, such as stones, stumps, &c., they will adjust themselves thereto without straining the frame. The frame is also jointed in the middle of its length, as maybe seen at c. The object of this is to permit of the rollers crossing furrows or other obstructions without straining the frame,

and at the same time avoid skipping any of a the surface of the ground over which the roller is passing. I said these sliding journals 1) have two functions. One is that they may be readily detached, and the other is that they may be adjusted on the frame to any desired position.

The various sections are adapted to be moved IOO or adjusted to and fro, and interlap or interlock as far as may be desired; but it is preferred in use on rough or uneven ground to adjust the central sections forward or back-V it is much easier for the horses, the boxes, as before stated, serving as hinges and journals.

These parts are interchangeable, so that if any of the parts get broken or out of order, the machine may be readily taken apart and a new part replaced.

The same description will apply to the arrangements shown by Fig. 4, only that it is principally adapted to level ground, and, as far as the frame is concerned, to Figs. 2 and 3.

In order to insure the axles turning in their boxes one wheel of each of the central sections may be rigidly secured to the shaft. It may be observed when the axles turn in their boxes and the wheels turn in opposite directions, when turning, the friction is much reduced, in addition to the advantages already described for this arrangement.

Each of the sections is provided with a scraper, (I, which prevents the adherence of dirt to the wheels. These scrapers are readily removed and replaced, and, as well as the hinged sections, they adjust themselves automatically.

On the rear end of the frame of the central section is located a marker or a series of markers, f, for these may be one or more, as occasion may require and according to the kind of seed to be sown. This marker may be secured by any approved means. In this instance I use straps rounded on their inner bearings, having key-holes or slots in their ends. I also cut a slot or flat place in the frame, and

then insert the key, as may be seen at 9. A

shaft, H, runs transversely across'the-rear end of the frame, to which the scrapers f are attached, and is secured to the frame by the strap 9. A brace-rod, h, runs across and holds together the rods 1', upon which the markers are secured.

To the shaft H is attached a lever, J, reaching from said shaft to near the drivers seat,

by which the markers can be raised or lowered section is removed, the other wheels straddle the row of corn, and the plow cultivates both sides of the row at one time. It is evident that all the parts are removable, detachable, and interchangeable, and the rollers may be used without the plows, if desired, the object being to press the earth closely about the roots of the plants.

At the front of the machine is located a drag or clod-spreader, K, adapted to be raised or lowered as occasion may requireth at is to say, when an obstruction is in the way it may be raised to clear it by operating the lever, and may be kept up when traveling or not in use by any well-known means. When desired to spread the clods and to fill up the holes and otherwise make the ground more even the drivers foot is placed on the step It, bearing his weight on it, and thus forcing it hard to the ground. This mechanism is fastened and suspended from the shaft which supports the seat.

One of the novel features of this invention is the manner of mounting the seat on the frame. Sockets mare made similar to those already described, by which the frame is connected. They are slipped on the ends of the frame of the central section. bored in them. The rods that support the seat are inserted in these holes when the seat is in position. Thus the seat is readily removed by slipping it oh", and as easily put in place by slipping it on.

The pole or tongue is fastened to the seat cross-shaft L. Braces may be used, if found necessary, from the central frame to the side frames; but the construction is thought to be sufiiciently strong to stand any ordinary draft. These parts, like the others, may be removed to the other end, if deemed necessary.

The action of the rollers over ground to be rolled is so apparent that description is thought not to be essential to a proper understanding of their functions.

Instead of the plows or cultivator-teeth P P, (shown asattached in Figs. 2 and 3,) a bulltongue or subsoiler may be substituted. I may direct particular attention to this feature of my machine on account of its importance as an auxiliary.

When land is wet it forms an excellent drain, and when land is very dry it holds the moisture, of course one of the essentials to this result being that the surface of the land he firm, so that the air does not reach the aperture formed by the subsoiler.

I am aware that subsoilers have been used as a plow, but never, tomy knowledge, in connection with the rollers.

'On the rear of the central frame, Fig.3, are seen hooks or stays a, for the purpose of retaining the plows or subsoilers out of and from the ground when not in use.

Reverting more particularly to the various parts of the machine, it will be observed that they are all made of metal, the'frames as well as the rollers, so that there is no rotting of any Holes are then of the parts, no wood to decay or rot, every part being complete in itself. Of course it will be readily seen the action of these narrow flat-faced rollers on the soil is different from a broad-faced roller in this, that the broad-faced roller when it meets clods, the ground being soft, merely sinks them into the earth and does not break or pulverize them at all. With mine, the faces of the rollers being narrow, they cut the clods, and what one fails to cut the next-followin g roller will finish. Then the rollers, iuterlapping, roll the entire surface of the ground, leaving a smooth flat surface.

Rollers which are made sharp on their faces and interlappin g cut into the ground and leave a rough corrugated surface, or, strictly speaking, ridges, thus exposing a greater surface of the soil to the drying heat of the sun and air than by my method. This is precisely what I desire to avoid, as my object is to pulverize first and then pack or compress the soil as hard as possible on the surface, to prevent the heat of the sun and air from drawing out and absorbing the moisture, and this I do effectually by my machine.

It is evident that some features of my invention may be made of diflerent form and that modifications may be introduced. I do not, therefore, desire to confine myself to the exact construction shown.

, Having now described my invention, its construction and operation, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Aland-roller made up of flat narrow-faced wheels or rollers, and these, in turn, composed of sections placed contiguous to each other, as shown, the central section arranged in advance or in rear of the side sections, whereby the vertical play of said side sections will be increased and the roller will ride freely over all obstructions, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a land-roller, the combination of the central section arranged relatively to the side sections, as described, the said central section and the side sections being adapted to be adjusted to and fro on their frames to any desired position, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a land-roller, the combination of the central section, the two side sections adapted to slide on their respective frames to and fro, and each connected to said frame by hinged journal-boxes, so that either or all of them are adapted to tilt and adjust themselves to the unevenness of the ground, in the manner set forth and described.

4. The combination, in a land-roller, of the central section and the two side sections, constructed as described, and their hinged journal-boxes, each or all being adapted to slide on their respective frames to any desired position, the said frames being jointed near the middle of their greatest length, substantially as described and shown.

5. The combination, in a land-roller, substantially as described, of the frame made in three sections connected together by hinged journal-boxes, one portion of said boxes forming the journals for the shaft, while the other portion forms the hinge, all of said sections being jointed near the middle of their length, the joints being such that the hinged boxes may slide over them, substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination, in a land-roller, of sec tions, each section .being made up of narrow fiat-faced rollers or wheels, the said sections being adapted to slide on their respective frames, and the rollers or wheels of each section, or either of them, being adapted to interlap and to recede from or approach each other, as hereinafter set forth.

7. In a land-roller, the combination of the frame, made of round iron and of the same diameter throughout, as described, the crossshaft L, fitted on said frame by sockets m, the sockets being adapted to receive the seat-supports, said shaft L serving the purpose of tongue-rod and also support for the drag K, all arranged for joint operation in the manner set forth.

8. The combination, in a landroller, of sections formed of narrow fiat-faced rollers or wheels, each section arranged to slide on its frame and adapted to interlap, as shown, the frames having join ts about the middle of their length, the axle being mounted in hinged journal-boxes, by which each or any of the sections may be adjusted to the ground and in longitudinal position, the marker H, h, 'i, and f, and lever J, with drag K, all arranged in the manner set forth.

9. A sectional land-roller composed of narrow flat-faced wheels adapted to be adjusted and arranged on their axles substantially as shown and described, whereby one or more of said wheels may be removed and the roller converted into a straddle-row machine, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as no my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AMOS C. DILDAY. Witnesses:

P. A. BYRNE, ALoNzo A. MARR. 

